Berlin, Nikita celebrate International Polar Bear Day

But the Midwest residents who enjoyed the snow most of all were Nikita and Berlin, the Kansas City Zoo's polar bears.

Berlin, 23, rolled around like a frisky puppy in the snow. She overcame her natural disdain for the chilly waters to take graceful swim after swim. She especially enjoyed tossing her barrel into the water and floating with it.

Nikita, 6, went swimming lap after lap before the flakes even arrived. Once they arrived, he would soak up the snowflakes sticking to his fur.

The snow seemed to bring the two polar bears closer together. Berlin, who has been bossy and standoffish at times toward Nikita, tolerated him better and let him play with her more. On Friday after the snow, the two dug out sleeping spots in the snow and took long siestas.

The Kansas City Zoo closed early Feb. 21 and was completely closed Feb. 26. But schoolchildren could watch the polar bear's antics on the Sonic Bear Cam at www.kctv5.com/nikita.